[Vision2020] School Reform Should Start at the Top

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (February 28, 2011) Lewiston Tribune.

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In Idaho, school reform should start at the top
By Marty Trillhaase of the Tribune

Idaho doesn't have an educator sitting atop its school system.

It has a politician.

For that, you can thank the state's Republicans.

And its Democrats.

Much has been said about current school Superintendent Tom Luna's
credentials - or lack thereof.

Luna famously got a degree from an online college, Thomas Edison State
College in New Jersey, to qualify for the post. But he hasn't spent one
day as a classroom teacher or administrator.

Not long ago, that would have barred Luna from seeking the job. Besides a
college degree, Idaho law required its top school administrator to have
devoted at least three years as a teacher or administrator.

In 1993, legislators from both political parties were talking about
seeking the job. Neither had spent time in the profession, so lawmakers
removed the obstacle in their path.

It's not the first time politicians have meddled with the job.

A quick trip through Idaho history shows the scope and duties of Idaho's
school superintendent are not fixed.

There has been a tug of war between the State Board of Education and
superintendents.

Lawmakers also have toyed with the idea of eliminating the
superintendent's position or making it an appointee of the state board.

The Legislature's intervention in 1993 ushered in 16 years of turmoil.
First came Republican Anne Fox, who flamed out, leaving a void that the
state board, legislators and Gov. Phil Batt occupied.

Four years later, Marilyn Howard restored competence to the job. But as
the state's lone Democratic official, she became a target for partisan GOP
appointees on the state board.

In 2006, Luna became the first non-educator to win the post. That may not
matter to Luna's fellow Republicans in the Legislature and governor's
office. But it means a great deal to the people Luna is supposed to be
leading - teachers, students, administrators and parents. Ask them and
they'll tell you Luna doesn't speak for them.

In fact, as Luna's efforts to siphon money out of the classroom and into
online education demonstrate, the superintendent doesn't speak to them,
either.

Idaho has dozens of politicians involved in debating, tweaking and passing
new education policies.

It has only one superintendent of public instruction to advocate on behalf
of - and then lead - the people who have to do the real work.

It's a crucial difference.

What you get, at the schoolhouse level, is drift. Luna can propose
policies at the Statehouse. But lacking credibility or trust from teachers
and administrators, he has had a difficult time getting anything
implemented.

Educators at the local level will tell you Luna continued testing programs
and initiatives launched by his predecessor, but little else changed on
his watch.

All of which raises a question about how well Luna's new batch of proposed
reforms - more emphasis on online courses, laptop computers for students
and merit pay for exceptional teachers - will fare. If the troops
responsible for following orders don't like the policies and have no faith
in the general behind them, how well will they carry out those directives?

If Idaho wants a politician running the schools, turn that job over to the
governor. The chief executive can, in turn, hire his own director of
education. If voters don't like the results, they can get a new governor.

If they want a professional administrator, have the State Board of
Education hire a state schools superintendent in much the same way the
board now appoints presidents at the college and universities.

If this truly is a season of education reform, why not start at the top? -
M.T.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown